Leno leaving the 'Tonight Show' next spring

(USA TODAY/AP) --Jay Leno says he will be leaving NBC's "Tonight Show" next spring, to be replaced by Jimmy Fallon.

Leno announced the move Wednesday in a news release.

NBC also confirms that the show will be moving to New York City when Fallon takes over. "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels will take over as producer of the new "Tonight Show."

The move has been widely reported but not confirmed by the network until now. NBC reportedly just wrapped up negotiations with Fallon on a contract extension.

Thelate-night drama is merely the latest to be played out publicly over thelast two decades, following Leno's succession of Johnny Carson in 1992and Conan O'Brien's short-lived stint in 2009, when Leno was firstremoved and then reinstalled in prime time. Seth Meyers, the head writerof Saturday Night Live and host of its Weekend Update segment, is a finalist to succeed Fallon at 12:35 a.m. ET/PT.

Lenoand Fallon collaborated on a mock duet that aired Monday, an attempt tosmooth over any perception that Fallon was strong-arming Leno out thedoor. But Leno has been targeting NBC executives with jokes lately,including that same night.

NBC did not say who replaces Fallon in his current time slot, which is one hour later than the "Tonight Show."